For Win10 10586 you said to email. To what address -- or it just occurred to me it may be a joke as I saw elsewhere that you won't respond to emails about topics -- meaning 'you' figure how to install Win10 10586.

I downloaded 10585 and I saw a key on that web site but it has limited life. Haven't tried to install.

I looked over the many posts on Win10 and tried the links which took me to a general download page (10586).

I have a test SSD so I can swap back to the original.

Other questions:

1. Is it too early to try Win10 and XXHE 2.03? (being that it needs specific builds)

2. I downloaded Win10 1511 (Tech Bench) and tried to install but it requires a key. I saw somewhere that using your key for another version would work. - it didn't.

3. Could install Win7 then upgrade to Win10 but what version would it be and not worth while if it has bad SQ.

So, where is the activation Key for Win 10? Did I miss it somehow when I downloaded?Some of you figured it out so it can be done.

At the top of their home page, go to the "Windows 10 ISO" drop-down menu and select "Windows 10 TH1 Download." TH1 is code for the original Build 10586.0.

From there, select the edition you want from the TH1 drop-down menu. I suggest the "N" edition because it does not have many of the media-related apps, such as camera and the Windows Media Player, built-in. All editions are available in many different languages. The downloads, themselves, are actually from Microsoft's servers, which are linked from the WindowsISO.net site.

If you're asked for an installation key, for the Professional Standard (full) edition use:

W269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX

and for the Professional N edition, use:

MH37W-N47XK-V7XM9-C7227-GCQG9

The KN edition is in Korean only. A link to keys for other editions can be found at the top of the first drop-down menu.

You should install it with your Internet connection disabled and then with "Stop Windows Updates" selected in XXHE before reconnecting. To do this, in later versions of XXHE, right-click on the Stop button at the bottom of the Playlist window.

If you have a problem booting from the installation disc, install from within an existing Windows OS that has the same architecture (x32 or x64). I found that it was easier to locate the installation disc in the File Explorer and proceed by double-clicking on Setup.exe.

While you'll have to purchase an activation code to unlock every feature, in practical terms, it's not necessary for a dedicated XXHE PC. Unlike 10074, this version never expires, so you can keep your PC's calendar on the actual date.

I experimented further with both versions of the 10586.0 mentioned above and can no longer recommend the "N". In a test install over 10074, it deleted all of the apps in the Programs Files, both x86 and x64. It also failed to recognized all of the actions that I had taken to turn off W10 features in the earlier install, disabled some of the ports on my USB add-in card, and could not be activated. Ay Caramba!

However, the Standard (Full) installation worked perfectly. It remembered all of the previous settings, preserved all of the installed apps, and I was able to activate it by using the Activation Key as a new product ID.

Maybe people do/did, but IMO it would be by accident or "not knowing better". XXHighEnd has to support the Build of concern formally, or otherwise nobody would know why things go bad or sound bad etc. So currently there's only formal support for 10074 (sounds special but these days not on par), 10240 (sounds bad), 10565, 10586.0 (is OK), 14393.0 (consensus about being the best).Ever back I downloaded 15063 (Creators Upgrade) but I never did anything with it because it was generally regarded to be the opposite of lean.

Also notice that these days many (me among them) use the RAM-OS Disk, and this has become a reference. IOW, only when I make a from RAM bootable version of it (takes a small day all 'n all) I can judge its merits. So only when a special version is around the corner with a fair chance of better sound, I do it. Then, when all looks promising, I start to attack all the bugs, anomalies and other specialties. After that it is formally supported (no upgrades to it allowed, which XXHighEnd takes care of).

In a test install over 10074, it deleted all of the apps in the Programs Files, both x86 and x64.

Ehh, WHAT ?Are you saying you use such an ISO to Upgrade an OS like 10074 ?

Yes, I downloaded the ISO for 10586 Standard Edition (it is actually the Pro edition), burned it onto a DVD-R, and installed it over 10074. It retained all of my third-party apps, like XXHE, without deleting the existing licenses. So, XXHE was still activated and all of my settings were still in place.

To save space, I then ran the Disc Clean-Up utility and deleted the 'Windows Old' folder, which kept build 10074 available in case I wanted to roll 10586 back to the earlier version.

At the top of their home page, go to the "Windows 10 ISO" drop-down menu at the top and select "Windows 10 TH1 Download." TH1 is code for the original Build 10586.0. DO NOT click on the large graphic on the lower right of that page or you will download the latest version.

From there, select the edition you want from the TH1 drop-down menu. It should be the "Standard" edition, NOT the N or KR.

If you're asked for an installation key, for the Professional Standard (full) edition use:

W269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX

Of course, you will still have to obtain an activation key to unlock all of the OS features, but they are mainly related to personalization. If you don't care about these, it will still function well enough to use XXHE.

~Joseph

PS. Apologies for the delay in responding -- I don't consult the forum very often.

I should add that I began the 10586 install from within 10074. By which I mean that I booted the XXHE PC with 10074 (which was already installed), loaded the 10586 disc into the DVD drive, located it in the File Explorer, and clicked on "Setup.exe"

First, I also disconnected the PC from the Internet to prevent the possibility of automatic updates. On the opening installation screen, I bypassed the "check for updates" option. Before reconnecting, I opened XXHE and in the Play window, right clicked on the Stop button and checked "Stop Windows updates."

It is entirely possible that booting from the 10586 DVD will also preserve the existing apps, but I cannot verify that. For some unknown reason, my PC would not boot from the installation DVD, which is why I updated it from within the existing OS.

I understand from my friend Zheng that you now recommend Build 14393. Of course, every time you install a new build all of the W10 defaults and useless apps are re-installed, too, which means spending two hours to tweak the OS back to its basic form, without the add-ons and default settings.

I understand from my friend Zheng that you now recommend Build 14393. Of course, every time you install a new build all of the W10 defaults and useless apps are re-installed, too, which means spending two hours to tweak the OS back to its basic form, without the add-ons and default settings.

Yeah, that's why I went straight to the 14393 But an update to a bare OS such as the one we use should be trouble-free.